Why did President Mahmoud Abbas downplay the Holocaust in Germany of all places?
Why say something that will be an obvious lie and outrage everyone?
Before answering the two questions, let’s first establish that the following contradictions dovetail very nicely in a politician’s antisemitic-Arab mind: (NB: Don’t use this piece to support racism against Arabs, which I abhor. On the one hand, we’re talking about valuable Arab culture in general (See here), and on the other about a terrorist turned dictator, not each Arab.)
1. The Holocaust never happened. Abbas claims that only 896,000 Jews were murdered, the rest died of natural causes, and the only ones who really perished were Gentiles, 50M of them.
Ad 1. Abbas’ dissertation. Consistent with time-tested, false Jew-hatred.
Ad 2. The Jews get all the sympathy, especially in Germany, while they deserve sympathy 50 times more. This is a sentiment that doesn’t need to correspond with objective facts. (Fact: Even if ‘only’ 896,000 Jews were murdered, times 50 is 45M Palestinians—where are their remains?)
Another way to defend this vile pronouncement is to say that the victims of the Holocaust are dead, but the Palestinians are now suffering their (self-inflicted) suffering, and that should count 50 times more.
Ad 3. This is a polite gesture to those who need it. He doesn’t need to believe or feel this to say it. He’s also not seen or heard saying this.
Abbas’ outrageous remark was a reaction to asking him to apologize for the terrorist massacre, 50 years ago, in Munich. In Arab culture, such a question stands for a highly impolite reception, bordering on hostile. What counts most is perception, and especially honor and respect, not facts.
Why He Said It
But why did he step on the Holocaust to make their suffering look worse, surely costing him a lot of credibility and support around the world?
A. For many decades, his foreign policy has been to be terrorists and murder Jews. Yet, they lack no international support from the US, to the UN, to Marxists, to fascists. When Putin invaded Ukraine, the Palestinian Authority openly supported him. It has cost them nothing. Nothing to worry about. Just like Trump saying if he’d murder for all to see, he’d lose no support. If push comes to shove (but it won’t), Abbas can always say he stressed the Holocaust’s importance and uniqueness (afterward).
B. Palestinian elections are coming up. His terrorist fractions are not doing well in the polls. But, the third point ‘he made’ (actually, a speechwriter for him declared this—he was never recorded saying this), acknowledging the Holocaust, won’t register with the public. But the second point is making him more popular. Especially because he defied the whole [decent] world. What a strong leader! Hatred against Jews has always been a great unifier for everyone (but the Jews—always spoiling unity, how selfish of them).
Abbas has always been an evil but superb strategist. He did nothing against terrorism (while orchestrating it, like Arafat) ‘because he’s a weak leader.’ The more and louder the world attacks him, the greater his election win. Reports of his political demise are greatly exaggerated.
He’s a master at turning defeat (the more, the merrier) into victories.
Internationally, many support Abbas ‘because there is no alternative.’ That’s not a good reason. You don’t support Hitler because there is no alternative. But, better, there are alternatives—see here.
About the Author
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1